Endorsements have been pouring in. The latest from Dame Philippa Russell, Chair of the Standing Commission on Carers since 2007. Referring to a living wage for mothers and other carers, she said: “It’s a cause very dear to my heart!” The Commission is an independent advisory body providing expert advice to ministers and the Carers Strategy Cross Government Board.

An Exhibition featuring prominent women who fought for survival, justice and well-being will be followed by a Community Speak Out at the Crossroads Women’s Centre to which all are invited to take part and bring a photo of the woman they want to honour. First to be honoured: Eleanor Rathbone who campaigned for decades to win Family Allowance for all mothers (renamed Child Benefit) in 1946 as part of the Welfare State. See list of women honoured here.

GWS co-ordinator Selma James says: “Investing in caring work would help to close the income gap between women and men. It would draw more men into caring. It would redirect economic and social policies towards survival, health and well-being – for every individual and for the planet which sustains us all.”

As the general election looms, women voters are being courted and in some constituencies our votes may be a deciding factor. But what’s not in the news is what many of us women want: financial support for the fundamental caring work mothers and other carers do for society. Austerity has disproportionately hit women and children. Earnings have dropped, particularly for care workers on zero-hour contracts. The caring work mothers and other women do at home is not valued. When we go out to a job, it is often more caring work, this time undervalued and low paid. And while those of us who are immigrants are scapegoated by politicians, especially before elections, we do some of the lowest paid caring jobs and keep the NHS going.

The campaign for a living wage is on various political manifestos. But mothers and other family carers are left out. That’s why GWS is launching an international petition calling for every worker, including mothers and other carers, to be paid a living wage. (www.globalwomenstrike.net).

A dozen local businesses in Kentish Town have kindly stepped forward with donations and offers of services to women to be raffled at the Honour Mothers, Honour All Carers event on Saturday 14 March. They include several local cafes offering meal vouchers up to £20, two hair salons offering free wash and cut, a book voucher and several shopping vouchers.

The petition has already been launched in the US and will be launched in other countries, including India, Ireland and Peru, later this month.

Multiculturalism cannot be won by the imposition of laws in my view. Laws mean that people are still opposed to racial equality and have to be forced by legislation to treat others equally. Trevor Phillips is no different to any government-appointed individual, he is paid by the government and will be wary of rocking the boat.

Multiculturalism was introduced to British people through deception, and will never be accepted by the majority of the British people it can be argued. If they were given a referendum on whether non-whites should be asked to leave this country I do not believe that black and minority ethnic communities could be confident that their citizenship would be secured.